Chapter One - Some entertainment
Takes place somewhere between act twenty four and act twenty eight
We incorporated a few scenes from the show, but much of this we made up
Original written March 2007, edited and posted May 2007

Nephrite huddled in an out of the way corner in one of the many unused tunnels of the Dark Kingdom. He had been sent from the throne room in disgrace, all because of that girl - that stupid senshi. She was the source of all his troubles, and now he couldn't touch her.
It just wasn't fair. He growled softly.

"What a pathetic sight."
His head jerked up at the sound of her voice. Darkury was standing there, regarding him, a half smirk on her lips.
"What do you want?" he grumbled.
"Entertainment. And it looks like I found some."
"Not here," he muttered.
"Oh, definitely here," she chuckled, "Just look at you, all pathetic."
"Go away!"
"Or what?" she challenged, smirking.
"Just go away," he looked down.
Darkury nudged him with the tip of her boot, "Pathetic."
Nephrite pushed her foot away.
Darkury just did it again, finding his feeble attempts at stopping her rather amusing.

"What do you want?" he growled finally.
"I told you. Entertainment."
"Go find it somewhere else!" he snapped.
"But you're so amusing," she said with a serene smile, "There's nothing more entertaining than a failure."
He just growled, glaring at her angrily.
"It isn't my fault you messed up," Darkury continued with a smirk, "You're just not cut out to be a shitennou."
He tensed, "Go away..."
"You know I'm right."
"I said Go Away!" he scrambled up to his feet and stalked over to her.
She just crossed her arms, looking amused.
"Leave."
"No," she said simply.

Nephrite gave her a hard shove. She stumbled briefly and then righted herself. "I wouldn't," she smirked, "You don't want to upset anyone, do you?"
"Just get out of here!"
"I don't take orders from failures," she said airily.

Nephrite decided he didn't care what happened to him - he just wanted to wipe that smirk off her face. He lunged at her, but she side stepped neatly, sticking her leg out right where he was running. Nephrite went flying and landed hard on the ground.
His face burned bright red when he heard her laugh.

"Are you done?" Darkury asked, leaning arrogantly against the wall.
Nephrite got up and gave her a very dark look. He really, really wanted to hit her in the face. But, instead, with as much dignity as he could scrape together, he walked past her.
She casually stuck out her foot and he went flying again.
He got up as quickly as he could and walked away, her laughter burning in his hot ears.

Nephrite found another corner to hide in and he curled up. Why wouldn't that senshi leave him alone? Couldn't she go bother someone else for awhile?

"So this is where you crawled off to," came her voice some time later.
"Bored again?" he asked.
"Perhaps," she said, "And seeing as you have such a... knack for ending up face-first in the mud, I thought I would come and watch."
"Well I don't plan on entertaining you," he growled.
"You already are," she chuckled, "Curled up on the floor like some kind of bug. Pathetic."
"You are easily amused then."
"Perhaps," Darkury gave a shrug, "People who are weak amuse me."
"It takes one to know one I suppose."

Darkury kicked him. Rather hard. Nephrite grunted and caught hold of her foot, pulling hard, trying to unbalance her.
She drew her sword and smacked him over the head with the flat of the blade.
Nephrite's eyes watered, but he didn't let go of her ankle, kicking out at her. She jumped to avoid his kick, and dislodged his hold on her foot.

He gave a soft growl, and the two glared at each other for a few long moments before he finally looked away.
"Truly worthless."
Nephrite couldn't even come up with a good retort, practically suffocating under his rage.
She kicked him once again before heading off down the corridor, leaving him alone again.

Alone again, Nephrite rested his head on his arms. He couldn't help but wonder if maybe Mercury was right. Maybe he was worthless. That would explain why Beryl-sama wanted nothing more to do with him.
The red head closed his eyes tightly against tears that were threatening to escape.
He knew he should find a new hiding place... but he couldn't gather the energy to get up. What was the point anyway? Mercury would just find him again, so he may as well just stay here.

It was quite a while before footsteps echoed down the corridor.
"You haven't moved any, then."
Nephrite didn't look up at her, "No."
"Hmph," she crossed her arms, "You're making the place look untidy."
"No one comes here but you," he responded, "So no one else cares."
"I care, and you're making the place untidy," she said, "Why don't you go and be worthless failure elsewhere?" She nudged him with her foot a few times, but he didn't move.
Darkury gave a deep, melodramatic sigh. "You're starting to annoy me."
"No one is keeping you here," he responded softly.

"You aren't welcome here," she continued, "So move."
"No," Nephrite said simply. He had no where else to go.
She kicked him again, "Move."
"I don't take orders from you."
"You should," she smirked, "I'm your better, so you should show respect."
Nephrite sighed and rose to his feet. She really didn't have authority to tell him what to do, but he just wanted her to shut up.
"Go find some other corner," she ordered.

Nephrite didn't say a word, slowly walking past her.
Darkury stuck her foot out to trip him, but Nephrite just went around it.
She pouted, but Nephrite didn't gloat about it - he just kept on walking. Everything about his posture showed he was defeated.

Darkury watched him go. That hasn't been nearly as fun as it used to be, quite disappointing actually. It seemed like Nephrite had given up. He had lost everything that was important to him, and he had even run out of energy to get angry with her.

She frowned slightly. He would probably just find some corner somewhere and stay there forever if she left him alone.
But somehow... that didn't make her feel good... it brought a vague memory to the surface... a memory of being alone... without friends.
She wriggled her shoulders uncomfortably. She didn't like this.

Nephrite had found another place to hide, and he slid down to the floor, leaning against the wall. He watched a small steady drip of water from a stalactite fall to the ground.
After a long period of silence he heard footsteps.
He sighed. Mercury had found him. What did she want now?
"Ne," Darkury said softly.
He looked up, "Exploring?"
"Something like that."
"Oh," he said softly, looking down again.

She slowly held out her hands, showing him a mended cloak. She folded it up again and tossed it onto his shoulder.
Nephrite reflexively flinched when he saw her throw something. He looked at her, then at the cloak, and then back to her.
"All alone..." she murmured, "I don't like it."
Darkury regarded him for a moment longer and then turned around and walked off.

Once she was gone, Nephrite pulled the cape off his shoulder and examined it, running the fabric through his fingers, trying to find where it had been torn. But it was mended perfectly; there was no sign of a tear.
He couldn't believe this. Why had she done this? It couldn't be... because she felt sorry for him. That was the last thing he wanted.
He closed his hand into a fist around the cape. Pity from a Sailor Senshi. What could be worse? Now he wished Beryl had just killed him...
He pulled the cape over his head.